WITHOUT A DOUBT, the two best known and highly respected religious leaders in the world today are Dr. Billy Graham and Pope John Paul II. Both men have very attractive personalities which understandably leave most of those who see and hear them with very favorable impressions.
Billy Graham's influence in the religious world is the cumulative result of his national and international evangelistic crusades coupled with his extensive radio, T.V. and publishing ministry extending over a period of some 35 years. He is the undisputed leader of the world-wide evangelical movement.
On the other hand, Pope John Paul II's influence has been of much shorter duration (he became pope in 1978). However, as head of the Roman Catholic Church, he attained immediate status and influence with the millions of Roman Catholics. And, since assuming his high office, he has become "the most traveled pope" in the history of his church. These travels, widely covered by the news media (radio, TV, newspapers and magazines) have given John Paul II an unprecedented opportunity to influence millions of noncatholics, most of whom have been very favorably impressed by his humble demeanor, gracious manner and personal warmth.
The purpose of this article is not to demean, belittle or criticize either Billy Graham or Pope John Paul II personally. But, because of the tremendous influence which both men exercise, it becomes absolutely essential to scripturally analyze and evaluate what these two world religious leaders are saying and doing. Should true Bible believers follow the leadership of either Dr. Graham or Pope John Paul II? The correct answer to this question is of utmost importance!
There can be no question about the Pope's personal magnetism. When he visited the USA in 1979, he received the broadest press coverage of any news event since President Kennedy's assassination in 1963.
TIME MAGAZINE said, "Americans of all beliefs and backgrounds teetered oh tip toe to get a glimpse of him and roar their approval." NEWSWEEK added: "By his mere physical presence, he seemed sometimes to have mesmerized the nation." TIME concluded that the Pope "has been received herewith more applause than any other religious or secular leader in the world," and went on to say, "HE WAS A MAN FOR ALL SEASONS, ALL SITUATIONS, ALL FAITHS, A BEGUILING, MODEST, SUPERSTAR OF THE CHURCH."
Indeed, Pope John Paul II has great "charisma." His personal charm, his friendly smile, his apparently humble spirit and his ability to say the right things at the right time to the right people all combined to make such a favorable impression on most Americans that he could have said almost anything and gotten away with it!
Of course, it is true that Pope John Paul II has made some statements and taken some positions with which true Bible believers heartily agree. His statements against abortion, divorce, euthanasia and homosexuality are certainly commendable. On the other hand, his strong position against capital punishment and his duplicity in regard to the menace of communism are deplorable.
Nevertheless, the basic question - the question which is of supreme importance to every believer is this: "Does Pope John Paul II - does the Roman Catholic Church - teach and preach the one true gospel of salvation by grace through faith in the finished work of Christ on the Cross and His bodily resurrection?"
Many Christians mistakenly believe that the Roman Catholic Church since Vatican Council II has completely changed and must now be considered a truly "Christian" church. The facts prove that such is not the case. The changes since Vatican II and under the leadership of Pope John Paul II have been largely "cosmetic" -changes in "attitude" rather than basic doctrines. The evidence to support such a conclusion is voluminous! Although Protestants are now called "separated brethren" or even "brothers in Christ" rather than "heretics", the gospel of Roman Catholicism is still a false gospel based on works, sacraments, confession, mass, penance, prayers, medals, relics, shrines, indulgences, purgatory and the mediatorial ministry of the Church, the Priesthood, Mary and the Saints.
During the Pope's visit to America, he said to the throng in Chicago, "By the Sacrament of Baptism we have been truly incorporated into the crucified and glorified Christ." While celebrating the Mass on the Washington Mall, he prayed, "Through the intercession of Our Lady of the Rosary, whose feast we celebrate today, may we come one day to the fullness of eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord, Amen."
This is not the one true gospel. It is a false gospel upon which God has pronounced a curse. (Galatians 1:6-9.) No amount of personal charm should be permitted to obscure the fact that the Pope and the Church which he heads preaches a false gospel which must be rejected and repudiated by all who will obey the Bible.
By contrast, Dr. Billy Graham has endeared himself to millions around the world for more than three decades. He, too, has great personal "charisma." I have never met or listened to a more likable person. Many have come to know Jesus Christ as Saviour through his world-wide ministry and we rejoice in this. At the beginning of his evangelistic crusades, he identified with and was supported by many fundamentalists. His simple gospel message; his repeated references to "The Bible Says"; his use of the old gospel hymns and his giving of a personal invitation to receive Christ as Saviour, found a warm response in the hearts of all who love Christ and desire to make Him known.
Graham began his evangelistic ministry in 1947 but it was during his first crusade in Los Angeles in 1949 that he received nationwide publicity through the Hearst newspapers. Requests for Graham to conduct crusades in other major cities came quickly as reports of Graham's successful crusade in Los Angeles received nationwide publicity. A question soon developed over local sponsorship of Graham's crusades. At first, Graham said he would never permit theological liberals to be on his local sponsoring committees. But, as the crusades grew in size and more and more churches became involved, Dr. Graham completely reversed his position. Now, Billy Graham will not hold a crusade in any city which cannot assure him of wide denominational support. This means that theological liberals do serve on local crusade sponsoring committees and crusade "converts" are referred to liberal churches.
When Billy Graham began his ministry, he had no hesitancy in identifying Communism, Catholicism and Ecumenism as enemies of the gospel - and he warned about them. But, with the passage of time, he has completely reversed his position and attitude toward all three. Early in his ministry, when asked what he thought the World Council of Churches would do at its forthcoming meeting, Graham replied tersely, "Elect the antichrist as president." But, by the time of the Lausanne Conference on Evangelism in 1974, when Graham was asked at a press conference about his relationships with the WCC, he replied, "As far as I know, we have nothing but the warmest relationships with the World Council of Churches." And, in 1 983, Dr. Graham sent a cablegram to WCC General Secretary, Dr. Philip Potter, expressing regret that he could not accept an invitation to speak at the WCC Sixth Assembly in Vancouver, B.C. because of schedule conflicts. Dr. Graham's cordial attitude toward the iniquitous National Council of Churches in the USA is also well known and includes his participation as a speaker at one of their General Assemblies.
The drastic changes in Dr. Graham's attitude toward Communism are also a matter of public record and should be of great concern, not only to every true believer but to everyone who values freedom and recognizes the continuing threat posed by the worldwide Communist conspiracy.
Early in his ministry, Dr. Graham said, "Today, Communism is the medium through which he [Satan] operates to dupe, deceive and delude that large segment of society which has chosen to believe a lie. ...Today, millions are embracing the false religion of Communism." Graham called the Communists, "The disciples of Lucifer, that in 30 years have slaughtered millions of innocent persons." At that time, Graham had his facts about Communism straight.
But in 1977, following a five day visit to Communist Hungary, Dr. Graham said he "regretted his former tendency to equate Christianity with the American Way of Life and Communism with the work of the Devil." Since that time, Graham has repeatedly made statements favorable to Communism - statements which the Reds have been quick to use in their worldwide propaganda programs. Of course, Graham's participation as a speaker at the Communist-sponsored, Communist-financed World Peace Conference held in Moscow in May, 1982, represented a crowning climax to the Communist efforts to use Graham's world-wide reputation as the top leader of Evangelicalism to provide a "cover-up" for the continuing Communist use and abuse of religion behind the Iron Curtain. Billy Graham's statement, made following his visit to Moscow, was, "I saw no evidence of religious repression in Russia." This statement, used by Communists around the world to disarm their critics, is one of Graham's greatest contributions to the Communist cause to date. And, Graham's new, changed attitude toward Communism as an "evangelical" deprives true believers of a most necessary voice of warning about this anti-God, anti-Christ, anti-Bible, anti-Church, anti-Christian system which has sworn to enslave the world.
But it is the complete "about-face" in Billy Graham's attitude toward Roman Catholicism that presents the greatest and most deceptive danger to the cause of Christ and the preaching of the one, true Gospel, After all, Communism is admittedly atheistic and Ecumenism is broad enough to include those who deny the very basic doctrines of the Christian faith. But Catholicism claims the title of "Christian" because it professes to believe in and teach such basic scriptural doctrines as the Deity and Virgin Birth of Christ; His death on the cross for our sins; and His bodily resurrection. Yet, the history of Roman Catholicism and its present teachings clearly prove that their "gospel" is "another gospel" a false gospel which has blinded the minds and hearts of millions of people and still holds them in the chains of spiritual darkness.
The change in Billy Graham's attitude toward Roman Catholicism was gradual but continually escalating. At first, Catholics were warned by their leaders not to attend the Graham crusades, but, as Graham's attitude toward Catholicism softened, Catholic opposition to his crusades diminished. It wasn't long before some Catholic leaders spoke approvingly of the Graham crusades, especially when he began referring Catholic "converts" back to their own churches for follow-up.
In 1972, Dr. Graham received the Catholic International Franciscan Award for "his contribution to true ecumenism" and his "sincere and authentic evangelism." In that same year, the official Vatican view of Graham's ministry was set forth in the following words of Rev. Charles W. Dullea, Superior of the Pontifical Biblical Institute in Rome: "Because he [Graham] is preaching basic Christianity, he does not enter into matters which today divide Christians. He does not touch on Sacraments or Church in any detail. This is, for us Catholics, a loss. But from another point of view it is a gain. For he is preaching basic Christianity, not Protestantism per se. True, he implicitly assumes certain Protestant positions in his own preaching, assuming for example the 'Bible as the sole rule of faith' and ‘private interpretation of Scripture' but these assumptions are not obtrusive and in fact influence the main thrust of his sermons little, if at all. The Catholic will hear no slighting of his Church's teaching authority, nor of Papal or Episcopal prerogatives, no word against the mass or sacraments or Catholic practices. Graham has no time for that; he is preaching only Christ and a personal commitment to Him. The Catholic, in my opinion will hear little, if anything, he cannot agree with. Perhaps occasionally a too literal interpretation of Scripture will be heard or a too rigorous stricture on gambling or drinking or smoking, but nothing against his faith."
By 1983, Billy Graham was not merely referring crusade decision cards to Roman Catholic churches but in the Orlando, Florida Crusade, 150 Catholic lay people from that area were trained to assist in the follow-up of Catholics who made "decisions." THE FLORIDA CATHOLIC, published in Orlando, Florida, revealed this information, stating that the Catholic lay people had been specially trained by a member of the Graham Team, Mr. Rick Marshall, who explained the format of a special Graham Bible Study booklet which he encouraged them to use in their follow-up. Mr. Marshall was quoted as saying, "The study was presented topically, not doctrinally and therefore would not conflict with the theology of a given church." It was later reported that 650 Catholics made "decisions" at this crusade. The time may not be too far distant when the Graham Crusades will have full Roman Catholic participation at every level.
Billy Graham, who has often been called the world's greatest evangelist, must now also be recognized as one of the world's greatest compromisers. By his own example and words he is leading millions to believe that three of Christianity's greatest enemies - Communism, Catholicism and Ecumenism are not really enemies at all, but friends. In recent years, Graham's public statements regarding all three of these enemies of the Gospel have been used to improve their images as "angels of light" instead of revealing their true identity as the "messengers of Satan."
In September, 1984, Pope John Paul II will be traveling to Vancouver, B.C. as part of a planned visit to major Canadian cities. In October, a Billy Graham Crusade is scheduled for the same city. The Pope's visit will be the biggest event of the year for Vancouver with over 250,000 expected to participate in a huge outdoor mass and additional thousands expected to see the Pope as he travels throughout the area in his bullet-proof "popemobile." Roman Catholic Archbishop James Carney has announced that during his visit the Pope will appeal for "ecumenism and church unity" and predicts that "the common desire for unity will be reflected in the presence of leaders of other churches at the events."
When Billy Graham arrives in Vancouver for his crusade, the crowds will be much smaller but will involve dozens of churches and pastors and hundreds of professed Christians from a great variety of churches. Will any of these dare to warn about the dangers of Catholicism and Ecumenism? The answer to that question is an obvious "no" since Billy Graham is one of Pope John Paul II's greatest admirers and boosters. When Graham comes to Vancouver so soon after the Pope's visit, he would have an ideal opportunity to warn God's people about the false doctrines of Romanism. Instead, unless he completely reverses his present position, he may be expected to praise the Pope once again as he has in the past, giving the impression that there is not really too much difference in their theological positions.
Shortly before Pope John Paul II's visit to the United States in 1979, Dr. Graham said that the Pope's coming "could start a new wave of spiritual revival in our nation which we desperately need. In the short time he has been pope, John Paul II has become the moral leader of the world. My prayers and the prayers of countless other Protestants will be with him as he makes his journey. His uncompromising moral stand and his warm human personality have won the admiration of many from different religious backgrounds and his visit will be of great significance for all Americans as well as the world." If the Pope preaches a false gospel (and he does), how could be possibly start a "genuine spiritual revival?"
Following Pope John Paul II's visit, Graham praised the Pope as a "statesman, a pastor and an evangelist." Graham said that the Pope was "pointing people to Christ," and he called John Paul II "the greatest religious leader of the modern world." Graham gave not one word of warning about the false gospel Roman Catholicism and the Pope preach - not one warning about the continuing efforts of Romanism toward spiritual and political control of the world!
These and many other statements made by Billy Graham concerning the Pope and Roman Catholicism indicate that Graham is deceived and, in turn, is deceiving others. Those who have been truly saved and delivered from the bondage of Roman Catholicism will attest to that!
In July and August,1983, the World Council of Churches held its 6th Assembly in Vancouver, B.C., where it once again demonstrated conclusively that it is a tool of Satan rather than a testimony for Christ. At Vancouver, the WCC program clearly revealed that it's perimeters are so broad that even raw, heathen worship is not only tolerated but welcomed and featured. Yet, both Billy Graham and Pope John Paul II sent warm personal commendations and greetings to the WCC. And now, with the scheduled coming of both Graham and the Pope to the very same city, who could fail to see that unscriptural bridges of fellowship are being encouraged between Roman Catholicism, Ecumenism and Evangelicalism? Who can fail to see that Billy Graham's changed, compromised position is serving as a catalyst in the formation of the one-world, Harlot Church described in the Book of Revelation?
It is not an easy or pleasant task to take a public stand against the positions held by the world's two best known and loved religious leaders, Dr. Billy Graham and Pope John Paul II. But, if we are to be true to God's Word, the Bible, we dare not remain silent when they say and do that which is absolutely contrary to the Scriptures.
The Bible commands believers to "Have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness but rather reprove them." Ephesians 5:1 1. Billy Graham insists on having fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness (Catholicism, Communism, Ecumenism) and will not reprove them. Thus, Billy Graham is disobeying the Word of God and those who follow his leadership are likewise disobedient.
Pope John Paul II is preaching a false gospel. He is not "abiding in the doctrine of Christ." Those who bid him "God speed" as Billy Graham and many other evangelical and Charismatic leaders do, are disobeying the Word of God. 2 John 9-1 1.
Fellow-believer, what will you do? Will you follow Billy Graham, the Pope, or the Bible? May God help us to say with the apostles of old, "We ought to obey God rather than men!"
Dr. Billy Graham constantly appeals to the Bible as the authority for his teaching. "THE Bible says" is one of his most used expressions. it is good to make our appeal to Scripture, for it alone can be our final authority (Isaiah 8:20). But it must be more than empty words. There must be a full submission to what the Bible says. In the case of Billy Graham the question is: DOES THE BIBLE SUPPORT THE STATEMENTS AND ACTIONS OF DR. GRAHAM?
We must weigh Dr. Graham's words against the Bible-with startling results.
DR. GRAHAM DECLARES HIS GOSPEL TO BE THAT OF THE ROMAN CATHOLIC CHURCH.
Speaking at the Roman Catholic Belmont Abbey College. North Carolina, Dr. Graham said: "The gospel that built this school and the gospel that brings me here tonight is still the way to salvation" (Gastonia Gazette, November 22-. 1967). That is plain enough. The then executive vice-president of Belmont Abbey College, Rev. Cuthbert E. Alien. agreed. He wrote. "I have followed Billy Graham's career and I must emphasize that He has been more Catholic than otherwise.... Billy Graham is preaching a moral and evangelical theology most acceptable to Catholics. " (personal letter, reproduced in Billy Graham and the Church of Rome by I. R. K. Paisley, Appendix. Document No. 3).
The question is:
WHAT IS THE GOSPEL ACCORDING TO THE CHURCH OF ROME?
1. Rome's gospel denies the full and final authority of Scripture.
The Second Vatican Council flatly decreed: "The Church does not draw her certainty about all revealed truth from the Holy Scriptures alone. Hence both Scripture and Tradition must be accepted and honored with equal feelings of devotion and reverence" (Vatican II, Dei Verbum II.9) . The Bible says, "To the law and to the testimony: if they speak not according to this word, it is because there is no light in them" (Isaiah 8:20). The reason for this is simple-only in Scripture do we have God's inspired, authoritative Word: ".All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof. for correction, for instruction in righteousness:, that the man of God may be perfect, thoroughly furnished unto ad good works" (11 Tirnothy 3:16). To be adequately equipped, we need nothing more than Scripture.Paul's warning is much to the point: "Beware lest any man spoil you... after the tradition of men" (Colossians 2:8).
DOES BILLY GRAHAM PREACH ROME'S GOSPEL, AS HE CLAIMED?
2. Rome's gospel denies the once-for-all atoning sacrifice of Christ. "The mystery of the Eucharist is the true center of the sacred liturgy and indeed of the whole Christian life" (Vatican II, Eucbaristicum Mysterium, Intro. A.). In this central act of worship Rome claims that the Mass is 1. a sacrifice in which the sacrifice of the cross is perpetuated." Again: "In the sacrifice of the Mass our Lord is immolated" [i.e., killed as a sacrifice]. According to Rome, "in it (the Mass) Christ perpetuates in an unbloody manner the sacrifice offered on the cross, offering Himself to the Father for the world's salvation through the ministry of the priests" (Vat. 11, Euch. Myst. Intro. C). Against all this the Bible says. "This man, after he had offered one sacrifice for sins for ever, sat down on the right hand of (God" (Hebrews 10: 12 ).Jesus exclaimed on the cross. "it is finished" (John 19:30). the meaning of which is fully explained in Hebrews 9:24-26: "(Christ is entered) into heaven itself, now to appear in the presence of God for us: nor yet that he should offer himself often ... for then must he often have suffered ... but now once in the end of the world hath he appeared to put away sin by the sacritice of himself."
Rome's gospel is a blasphemous denial of Christ's atonement.
DOES BILLY GRAHAM STILL CLAIM TO PREACH THIS GOSPEL OF ROME?
3. Rome's gospel denies justification by grace through faith in the merits of the righteousness of Christ. "If anyone shall say that it is by the righteousness of Chnst itself that men are formally justified.-let him be accursed" (Council of Trent, Session VI, Canon 10). "If anyone shall say that justifying faith is nothing else than trust in the Divine mercy pardoning sins for Christ's sake: or that it is that trust alone by which we'are justified, - let him be accursed" (Canon 12). Here Rome places her curse on the very Word of God! The Bible says. "By the deeds of the law there shall no flesh he justified in his sight.... But now the righteousness of God ... which is by faith of Jesus Christ unto all and upon all them that believe" (Romans 3:20-22). Again it states: "A man is justified by faith without the deeds of the law" (Romans 3:28), and "God imputeth righteousness without works" (Romans 4:6). Rome's gospel is a gospel of human works and merits. "Sins must be expiated. This may be done on this earth through sorrows. miseries and trials of this life and, above all. through death. Otherwise, the expiation must be made in the next life through fire and torments or purifying punishment" (Vat. 11, Indulgentiarum Doctrina I.2).
In total contrast, the Bible says, "Being now justified by his Christ's 1 blood, we shall be saved from wrath through him" (Romans 5:9). Again: "Therefore being [i.e.. having beeni justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ" (Romans 5:1 ). "There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus" (Romans 8: 1 ). The Apostle John gives the reason for this freedom from condemnation: "Your sins are forgiven you ft)r his [Christ'sl name's sake" ( 1 John 2:12). The gospel is "Blessed -are they whose iniquities are forgiven, and whose sins are covered. Blessed is the man to whom the Lord "ill not impute sin (Romans 4:7-8). This is the gospel that Rome rejects.
DOES BILLY GRAHAM STILL CLAIM TO PREACH THIS GOSPEL OF ROME?
4. Rome's gospel denies the sole mediation of Christ "The blessed Virgin is invoked in the Church under the titles of Advocate. Helper, Benefactress, and Mediatrix" (Vatican II, Lumen Gentium, VII Para. 62). Paragraph 61 of the same document says Mary "shared her Son's sufferings as He died on the cross. Thus, in a wholly singular way she cooperated ... in the work of the Savior in restoring supernatural life to souls." Pope. John Paul II has flatly stated that in Mary "is effected the reconciliation of God vath humanity ..., is accomplished the work of reconciliation" (Pope John Paul II, On Reconciation and Penance, St Paul Editions, p. 1391 It is vain for Rome to claim that All this does not violate the Scripture, which says, "There is . . . one mediator between God-and men, the man Christ Jesus" ( 1 Timothy 2:5). The Bible says, "God was 'in Christ (not Mary), reconciling the world unto himself' (II Corinthians 5:19). Again, the Bible says, "God Hath given to us eternal life and this life is in his Son" (1 John 5:11 ). Contrast the slogan adopted by the second Vatican Council, "Death through Eve. life through Marv" (Lum. Gent., VHI Para. 56).
This is Rome's gospel.
DOES BILLY GRAHAM STILL BOAST OF PREACHING THE SAME GOSPEL?
If he does he can have no message of salvation. Rome's gospel pronounces a curse on any man who comes to believe that he is assured of salvation and heaven in this life: "If any says that he will for certain ... have that great gift of perseverance unto the end. let him be accursed" (Council of Trent, Session VI, Canon 16). Has Billy Graham no better message than this?
DOES HE STILL PREACH ROME'S GOSPEL?
The Apostle Paul opposed such as preached a gospel like Rome's. He said, "Though we, or an angel from heaven. preach any other gospel unto you than that which we have preached unto you, let him be accursed" (Galatians 1:8). Paul curses Rome's gospel, but Billy Graham boasts that it is the same as the one he preaches.
DR. GRAHAM HAILS THE POPE AS'THE GREATEST REUGIOUS LEADER OF THE MODERN WORLD."
He wrote this in a lengthy article in the Saturday Evening Post, Jan. /Feb. 1980, and went on to refer to John Paul II as "one of the greatest moral and spiritual leaders of this century," "an evangelist," who "sought to speak to the spiritual hunger of our age in the same way Christians throughout the centuries have spoken to the spiritual yearning of every age-by pointing people to Christ." All this is most deceitful. John Paul 11 proclaims every Roman Catholic heresy noted above-and then goes even further.
- "Walk in love." (Ephesians 5:2) "The kingdom of God is...righteousness, and peace, and joy." (Romans 14:17)
- In separation from all forms of wickedness, religious and secular : "Have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness but rather reprove them." (Eph 5:11)
- Call on Christ for Salvation today -
- "Whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved." (Romans 10:23)
- "Now is the day of salvation." (II Corinthians 6:2)
- "Today if ye hear his voice. harden not your hearts." (Hebrews 4:7)
Before a September Crusade in New Jersey and an afternoon rally in New York, the Billy Graham organization contacted local Roman Catholic archdioceses to prepare counselors to deal with Catholics who respond to his altar calls. After the request, Cardinal John O'Connor of New York and Archbishop McCarrick of New Jersey sent letters to the “episcopal vicars urging them to contact pastors and parochial vicars to designate ‘parishioners who may assist us in our efforts to return as many Catholics as possible to the practice of their faith,’” according to the Catholic diocesan newspaper, The Tidings. The news article explained that those follow-up cards indicating a church preference of Catholic will be turned over by the Billy Graham organization to the local Catholic congregations. “Billy Graham’s intent as a dynamic preacher is to move people to give themselves to the Lord by returning to the practice of their faith in the religious denominataion of their choice,” Cardinal O'Connor said.
As Princess Diana was a queen of the hearts of millions of people, so Mother Teresa was a queen of the spiritual hearts of countless individuals on every continent. We admire both of them in different ways. Few people in our time exemplified so powerfully and yet simply the love and compassion of Christ as Mother Teresa. I have known her for a number of years, and it was my privilege to be with her on several occasions. The first time was at the Home for Dying Destitutes in Calcutta. I had a wonderful hour of fellowship in the Lord with her just at sunset, and I will never forget the sounds, the smells, and the strange beauty of that place. When she walked into the room to greet me, I felt that I was indeed meeting a saint.
I have also sat by her at banquets and social events. She always spoke with great boldness. I remember when she was the speaker at the National Prayer Breakfast in Washington when, with the President of the United States sitting nearby, she took a strong moral stand on a divisive issue. Later, the President said to a few of us, "She's really something! I wish I had a faith like that." She was one of the most humble and sweetest of God's servants that I have ever known. Her life has taught Christians of all persuasions many lessons of humble sacrifice, vision and dedication to the Person of Christ. She has taught us the true meaning of love. The whole world, regardless of religious background, admired Mother Teresa and will miss her. She had a moral and spiritual impact on the world that we rarely see. Her legacy of love and hope will live on throughout history.
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